The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1887-03-16
A Very Remarkable Eight.

While travelling through, the country
with Barnum in 1881" said veteran
Snowman, Sc | with ,ssed one of the most
remarkable fights on record -Four ele-
phants against one nan, and in the water
too In July or August. 1881. our show
struch the pleasant little city of Ottawa.
H. You are doubtless aware that ele-
phants are extremely fond Of bathing.
For some little time before coming to
Ottawa they had been deprived Of that
pleasure. No sooner wert they unload
ed from the train. ,scwever than their
sharp little eyes caught sight OF the riyer
and the news Wa~ trumpeted about in
elephant language rom one to the other.
They were very rcstive all day and he
trayed grcatanxiety 10 bathe, and a soon
as the afternoon performance WAS over
the under keeper, marched them to tne
river bank. assure YOU many seconds
did not el,pse before the whole herd,
twentv-thrae in number, were splashing
in the water ike q lot Of school boys.
such range sight naturally attracted
the attention of the towns-peopie and
farmers who, with their families, had
driven 70 see the show, and doubt very
much whether the river at Ottawa ever
presented such an animated appearance
as on that day.
After a while the keepers shouted
Mile up which in elephant phraseologl
means fall in. Nineteen Immediately
SWAN to shore. but no amount of shout
ing could induce the other four TO return.
Men were sent with rocks 10 the bridge
and the entire circus force swarned along
both river banks trying with stones TO
turn the huge beasts in the direction Of
the canvass, but al in vain. As last
resource the chief trainer. George Art
ingstall, Was sent .or. The poor fellow
had been sick IN bed for over week
with malaria, but on learning Of the diff
Guilty Immediately dressed himself and
came tn the bank Calling each eleghant
by name be ordered them to Mile up
For moment il looked a. though his
command would be obeyed. for the eie-
plants. recognized his voice halted and
seemed to waver in their course. Albert.
the oldest and biggest. however. settled
the matter by uttering a loud snort of
defiance. and led by him they once more
started up stream. Seeing at a glance
that hc could DO nothing on shore. Mr..
Ar-ing,tal made for the dressing room
tent. from which he soon emerged dress
-t in unb.ers tights, and placing the
elephant prod OF fork between his teeth,
boldly SWAIN out to the elephants.
Used a. we were 10 strange We yet
almost held our breath at this daring act.
When within a few wards of them Art
ingStall again shouted Mile up but
without effect Then. seeming to loose
his temper ne sprdng upon the back Of
the nearest one and commenced using
his fork for ali he was worth. Pretty
soon cry of rage came from the animal
upon which the trainer jumped from
that one 10 another, repeating the fork
performance until, after at least ten min
ute~ Of fierce fighting aud jumping, the
elephants cried p-c.avi, and SWAIN trem-
bhugly 10 the shore once there the
keepers soon had them under subiection,
1ut Artingstall. who had displayed such
.ntrepidity and courage, sank into dead
faint the moment he touched the shore
Well, ] can't exactly say, but certainly
5hemanageric tentsmelt Of burnt elephant